Which of these is a self-governing Palestinian territory?

The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km (32 mi) border. Gaza and the West Bank are claimed by the State of Palestine.

The territories of Gaza and the West Bank are separated from each other by Israeli territory. Both fell under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, but Gaza has since June 2007 been governed by Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic organization which came to power in free elections in 2006. It has been placed under an Israeli and U.S.-led international economic and political boycott from that time onwards.

Despite the 2005 Israeli disengagement from Gaza, the United Nations, international human rights organisations, and the majority of governments and legal commentators consider the territory to be still occupied by Israel, supported by additional restrictions placed on Gaza by Egypt. Israel maintains direct external control over Gaza and indirect control over life within Gaza: it controls Gaza's air and maritime space, and six of Gaza's seven land crossings.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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30 Comments

Mike Reidy

Absolutely despicable, that the people of Palestine were pushed from their land!

deborahpmercer

I utterly respect Israel's right to exist and loathe anti-Semitism with a passion. But this does not make everything Israel does right and anyone anti-Semitic who criticises it!

seane

I don't understand any or all of this except why are we involved in everybody else's business?

Cari G.

What a horrible way to live, my heart goes out to the Palestinians. Politics aside, this is a moral issue. Self governed when the air and water around them is governed by another?

Alan Straff

Palestine belongs to the Palestinians Clay Wilson not to the illegal zionist state!!

littledick

stormejohn, Of course we did and so did the British. At any rate whoever did it, whether Ameicans, British, Russians, Chinese or Zionists, doesn't make it right.

Carroll Price

World's largest open air prison.

stormejohn

Mike Reidy, We here in the states have a history of pushing the natives off of their land too. Do you think that the British ever did that?

Joe Mangan

Carol Fink Teitelbaum, "in 1948 thousands of Arabs chose to stay in the newly formed state of Israel." People don't always choose to abandon their homes in all and any circumstances, especially when, having done so their conquerers will refuse to allow them to return to what is theirs.

Joe Mangan

Carol Fink Teitelbaum, and what did Jews in Europe call themselves for 1000 years? Not Israelis. It is a common courtesy to refer to people as they would wish to be called. This recently unearthed canard about Arabs in Palastine not being Palestinians is pointless propaganda. Next you will be telling us that Americans in NYC are not New Yorkers.

Val Wilkinson

No it doesn’t Clay Wilson, according to international law

Val Wilkinson

Yes there is Jerry Mandelbaum ,

Val Wilkinson

I agree entirely and hate this idea that forces create such a barrier to prevent appropriate discussion deborahpmercer, Israel’s plan to annexe the West Bank is unjustifiable and breaks international law

Val Wilkinson

It is traditional for the US to involve itself in other countries when it feels like it. seane, In this case much of the world is involved trying to block this action.

Val Wilkinson

It is at present but Israel is about to annexe it, breaking international law in the process.

Char

Cecilia Nunez, I agree

Char

stormejohn, the British did both Jews left Palestine for years British moved them back in just back s few years maybe a century.. Just dropped them in on the Palestinians who had made their homes by that time. Yet as usual Brits gave them no choice..I think I read somewhere they had dispersed due to Syrians?

Carol Fink Teitelbaum

Prior to Yassar Arafat, they referred to themselves as “Arabs.” Arafat coined the phrase to politicize it. In 1948 thousands of Arabs chose to stay in the newly formed state of Israel. Arab militants (Pre-Hamas) pressured Arabs to leave the state of Israel. The terrorism nevered ended.